Distributor



Patented Feb. 13, 1923.

UNITED STATES JESS M. LPEZ, or SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

DISTRIBUTOR- Application filed July 28, 1921.

To all fio/10m 'it may concern.'

Be it known that l, Jess M.. lirnz, a citizen of Mexico` residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented. a. new and useful D'i;-:tribntor, of which the following is a specification.

This invent-ion relates to flexible, eccentric, ball bearing distributors of that type used in certain classes of automobiles and is designed more especially as an improvement upon the structure disclosed in a patent issued to me on March 22nd, 19217 Number 1,372,177.

One of the objects of the invention to provide improved means for holding the parts assembled.

Another object is to provide the shell with a contact surface of reduced area whereby a better contact with the roller is insured and the danger of interference by accumulations of dirt, etc., is reduced to the minimum.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed ont in the claims, it being understood that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as set forth in the claims.

ln. the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the distributor, its shaft being shown in sect-ion.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3 3, Figure 1.

Referring to the ligures by characters of reference, 1 designates the shell of the distributor in which is arranged an annular track 2 the sides of which are beveled, as shown in Figure 3, so as to present a wear surface of greatly reduced area. This surface is intersected, at intervals, by contacts 3, such as usually employed.

Mounted on the shaft 4, so as to rotate therewith, is a sleeve 5 having a radial ear 6. This sleeve is surrounded by an inner ring 7 having a ball race 8 and a lateral groove extends from the race at one point,

as shown at 9 in Figure 2, so that balls can Serial No. 488,084.

be rolled or inserted laterally through the groove and into the race 8. rllhe outer end of the recess or groove 9 is covered by one of a. pair of wings 1() which extend inwardly from the ring and are pivotally connected to the ear 6, as indicated at 11. These wings are attached to the sides of an arcuate strip 12 seated against the inner surface of the ring 7 and the outer edge portions of the wings are turned toward each other so as to lap the outer face of the ring and lie close to the ball race. These inturned edge portions have been shown at 13. One of the inturned portions 13 is pressed into the groove or recess i) to hold the parts from relative movement. See the depression at 14 in Figure 2.

The free end of the strip 12 has side ears 15 which straddle the ring 7 to hold the strip against lateral displacement. A projection is struck from this end portion of the strip and is engaged by one end of a spring 15', as shown at 16. The other end of the spring engages a lug 17 on the sleeve 5.

A series of balls 18 is seated in the race 8 and also project-s into a race 19 in the inner surface of an outer ring 20 which travels along the track 2 and contacts 3 in the shell 1.

lt will be noted that with the construction described the parts can be assembled readily and will not become accidentally separated. The reduced wear surface of the track 2 allows a. better Contact between the working parts because there is less danger of dirt, etc., accumulating upon the track.

1f desired a supplementall spring 21 can be arranged within the spring 15.

Guide ears 22 can be extended from the sleeve 5 to lap the sides of the ring 7.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a shell having an interior track provided with spaced contacts, the sides of the track being beveled to provide a reduced wear surface, of a shaft engaging sleeve, inner and outer rings having races, balls within the races, one of said races having a laterally extending groove opening thereinto, an arcuate strip within the inner ring, side wings thereon engagin the ring and closing the groove, a pivota connection between the wings and the sleeve, and a spring interposed between the sleeve and the strip.

2. The combination with a shell having Cil the balls, o. pivotal eomleeion bet-Ween zhe Wings and he sleeve, and a spring ioiizelposed between the etxzip and Sleeve.

In testimony that daim he ffm-@going i as my own7 I have he'eo afied my signa ue in the presence o1 two Witnesses.

JESS 1Vftnesses v E. SMPsoN, AGNES ROCKELLL 

